Live Well Challenge
King County's Health Reform Initiative: Progress report
Since launching the Health Reform Initiative, King County Executive Ron Sims has lost more than 40 pounds, lowered is blood pressure and lowered is cholesterol. His impetus for creating the initiative: "I refuse to accept that the only strategy is to shift significant costs to employees or cut benefits. It's time for bold, innovative strategies."
In three short years, the Executive's nationally recognized Health Reform Initiative is producing real results for King County's 13,000 employees and their families. Waste lines are shrinking, physical activity is up and county workplaces are incorporating healthy behaviors into the work week.
The Health Reform Initiative is a combination of an innovative benefits structure, health promotion programs and a collaborative effort at the regional level to improve quality and reduce cost of health care in the region. Learn more about the vision, strategies and programs of the King County Health Reform Initiative: http://www.metrokc.gov/employees/hri_toolkit/index.htm
News releases
- King County 's employee wellness program earns top national honors
- Sims brings region closer to better health care at lower cost
- County makes it worth while for employees to get moving
- King County achieves stunning level of participation in new wellness focused health benefits plan
- King County Health Reform Initiative presented as solution to national problem of rising health care costs
- Weight Watchers at work
In the news
- King County workers shedding pounds, King 5
- KC should look to Seattle for inspiration, Kansas City
- Stepping up to wellness, Washington CEO
- Employers making room for health promotion in workplace
- Behave or Else, Seattle Times (doc)